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Russia Backs Taliban Call to Withdraw Foreign Troops

Russia this week said it supports the Taliban’s demand for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan and that this call by the insurgent group was “justified”.

According to a Bloomberg report, President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said in an interview in Moscow that the Taliban’s call was “justified” in terms of opposing foreign military presence.

“Who’s in favor? Name me one neighboring state that supports it,” he asked.

In response to these comments, Sediq Sediqqi, head of Afghanistan's Government Media and Information Center (GMIC), said on twitter that "Russia ties and links with Taliban will encourage this group (Taliban) to intensify their attacks on civilians as ANSF have defeated them on the ground!"

He also said this could lead to the Taliban and other terrorist groups turning "Afghanistan again into a terrorist safe haven."

This comes amid growing tension between Russia and the U.S over Afghanistan.

Late last year, Russian officials confirmed that they had been in contact with the Taliban in a bid to get them to return to the peace talks tables.

However, the U.S has accused Russia of supplying weapons to the insurgent group.

According to Bloomberg, Kabulov accused the U.S of sabotaging Russian efforts to help end the Afghan war by boycotting a Moscow meeting planned for mid-April between Afghanistan and other regional countries.

Kabulov blamed the U.S decision on a fit of pique that Russia is taking the lead, and suggested that the military establishment in Washington is undermining U.S President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to cooperate with Russia in fighting terrorism, Bloomberg reported.

“The U.S won’t tell us and others what to do in Afghanistan,” Kabulov said.

Bloomberg meanwhile quoted Petr Topychkanov, an analyst at the Carnegie Moscow Center as having said Russia “views American bases in Afghanistan as a threat to its interests” and is maneuvering to maximize its influence by keeping channels of communication open with all sides.

Russia Backs Taliban Call to Withdraw Foreign Troops

Russian President's special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said that the Taliban’s call was “justified” in terms of opposing foreign military presence.

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Russia this week said it supports the Taliban’s demand for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan and that this call by the insurgent group was “justified”.

According to a Bloomberg report, President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said in an interview in Moscow that the Taliban’s call was “justified” in terms of opposing foreign military presence.

“Who’s in favor? Name me one neighboring state that supports it,” he asked.

In response to these comments, Sediq Sediqqi, head of Afghanistan's Government Media and Information Center (GMIC), said on twitter that "Russia ties and links with Taliban will encourage this group (Taliban) to intensify their attacks on civilians as ANSF have defeated them on the ground!"

He also said this could lead to the Taliban and other terrorist groups turning "Afghanistan again into a terrorist safe haven."

This comes amid growing tension between Russia and the U.S over Afghanistan.

Late last year, Russian officials confirmed that they had been in contact with the Taliban in a bid to get them to return to the peace talks tables.

However, the U.S has accused Russia of supplying weapons to the insurgent group.

According to Bloomberg, Kabulov accused the U.S of sabotaging Russian efforts to help end the Afghan war by boycotting a Moscow meeting planned for mid-April between Afghanistan and other regional countries.

Kabulov blamed the U.S decision on a fit of pique that Russia is taking the lead, and suggested that the military establishment in Washington is undermining U.S President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to cooperate with Russia in fighting terrorism, Bloomberg reported.

“The U.S won’t tell us and others what to do in Afghanistan,” Kabulov said.

Bloomberg meanwhile quoted Petr Topychkanov, an analyst at the Carnegie Moscow Center as having said Russia “views American bases in Afghanistan as a threat to its interests” and is maneuvering to maximize its influence by keeping channels of communication open with all sides.

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